Abstract: A kicking shoe attachment for use by the rider of a kick scooter having an elongated core with a flat upper surface with an upper sole thereupon, and an opposing curvilinear lower surface with a wear resistant lower sole disposed thereupon. Optionally a heel cup connected to a heel cup carrier plate is slidably supported in a heel cup carrier plate receiver. A latching mechanism allows securing the heel cup and carrier plate in a desired position along a major axis of the elongated core. The elongated core may be split apart horizontally and two or more springs, a block of a resilient material or a scissor jack mechanism may be placed between the portions. An opening may be placed in the upper surface of the elongated body to receive the protruding heel of typically a woman's heeled shoe or boot. A removable plug may fill the hole when unneeded.

Abstract: A kicking shoe attachment for use by the rider of a kick scooter having an elongated core with a flat upper surface with an upper sole thereupon, and an opposing curvilinear lower surface with a wear resistant lower sole disposed thereupon. Optionally a heel cup connected to a heel cup carrier plate is slidably supported in a heel cup carrier plate receiver. A latching mechanism allows securing the heel cup and carrier plate in a desired position along a major axis of the elongated core. The elongated core may be split apart horizontally and two or more springs, a block of a resilient material or a scissor jack mechanism may be placed between the portions. An opening may be placed in the upper surface of the elongated body to receive the protruding heel of typically a woman's heeled shoe or boot. A removable plug may fill the hole when unneeded.

Abstract: A pneumatic ball gathering system that clears tennis balls from a tennis court using air supplied to at least one discharge nozzle with optional intervening valves forming a structure that is typically disposed underground and selectively raised to clear balls. In one implementation, the structure is located along one side edge of the tennis court. In an alternate implementation, the structure may be located under the net and be configured with at least one nozzle disposed to direct air in both directions away from the net. A collection trough formed with a slope to cause collated balls to roll downward therein is disposed opposite the at least one nozzle. An optional mechanical conveyor system is placed in the trough to move collected balls to a predetermined location. A vertical conveyor raises balls for discharge into an appropriate container. The system may be used to facilitate drying the court after rain.

Abstract: A pneumatic ball gathering system that clears tennis balls from a tennis court using air supplied to at least one discharge nozzle with optional intervening valves forming a structure that is typically disposed underground and selectively raised to clear balls. In one implementation, the structure is located along one side edge of the tennis court. In an alternate implementation, the structure may be located under the net and be configured with at least one nozzle disposed to direct air in both directions away from the net. A collection trough formed with a slope to cause collated balls to roll downward therein is disposed opposite the at least one nozzle. An optional mechanical conveyor system is placed in the trough to move collected balls to a predetermined location. A vertical conveyor raises balls for discharge into an appropriate container. The system may be used to facilitate drying the court after rain.

Abstract: A kicking shoe attachment for use by the rider of a kick scooter or the like having an elongated core with a flat upper surface with a skid resistant upper sole thereupon, and an opposing curvilinear lower surface with a wear resistant lower sole disposed thereupon. The elongated core may be split apart horizontally and two or more springs, a block of a resilient material, or a scissor jack mechanism may be placed between the upper and lower body portions. An opening may be placed in the upper surface of the elongated body to receive the protruding heel of typically a woman's heeled shoe or boot. A harness or quick-release safety binding is provided to retain a rider's foot to the kicking shoe attachment. A tether may be provided for securing the kicking shoe attachment to an environmental object when not in use or to the kick scooter when the kick scooter is being ridden.

Abstract: A kicking shoe attachment for use by the rider of a kick scooter or the like having an elongated body with a flat upper surface with a skid resistant upper sole thereupon, and an opposing curvilinear lower surface with a wear resistant lower sole disposed thereupon. The elongated body may be split apart horizontally and two or more springs may be placed between the upper and lower body portions. Alternately, a block of a resilient material may be substituted for the springs. An opening may be placed in the upper surface of the elongated body to receive the protruding heel of typically a woman's heeled shoe or boot. A harness or quick-release safety binding is provided to retain a riders foot to the kicking shoe attachment. A tether may be provided for securing the kicking shoe attachment when not in use.

Abstract: A single-cylinder, dual head internal combustion engine wherein in a single, mechanically unconstrained piston moves reciprocally within the cylinder between the two heads. Magnets or nonmagnetized ferromagnetic structures in the piston interact with magnets in a sleeve riding on the outside surface of the cylinder to cause synchronous movement of the sleeve. A yoke coupled to the sleeve may be coupled to a conventional crankshaft to convert the reciprocal movement of the sleeve into rotary motion. Multiple single-cylinder, dual head units may be ganged to form multi-cylinder engine configurations. In one embodiment, the magnets in the sleeve are electromagnets whereby de-energizing the electromagnets decouples the sleeve from the piston, thereby eliminating the need for a mechanical clutch in a power train driven by the engine.

Abstract: A single-cylinder, dual head internal combustion engine wherein in a single, mechanically unconstrained piston moves reciprocally within the cylinder between the two heads. Magnets or nonmagnetized ferromagnetic structures in the piston interact with magnets in a sleeve riding on the outside surface of the cylinder to cause synchronous movement of the sleeve. A yoke coupled to the sleeve may be coupled to a conventional crankshaft to convert the reciprocal movement of the sleeve into rotary motion. Multiple single-cylinder, dual head units may be ganged to form multi-cylinder engine configurations. In one embodiment, the magnets in the sleeve are electromagnets whereby de-energizing the electromagnets decouples the sleeve from the piston, thereby eliminating the need for a mechanical clutch in a power train driven by the engine.

Abstract: A surgical suction instrument having multiple LEDs for selectively providing illumination as light of different wavelengths at the tip thereof. Typically, at least one of the LEDs is chosen to emit polychromatic white light. Individual switches operable by either the surgeon or another member of the surgical team allow any combination of the LEDs to be energized, thereby creating numerous combinations of light wavelength from the novel surgical suction instrument. Control of the intensity of one or more of the LEDs may be provided to further determine the character of the composite light emitted from the multiple LEDs. The LEDs may be powered by self-contained batteries or from an external power source. The device may either be a single use, disposable device or, in alternate embodiments, may be a device intended for multiple uses and capable of withstanding sterilization.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing cut flowers or similar articles, comprises a stand formed with an opening for receiving the stems of a bunch of the cut flowers or other articles; an elastic band holder underlying the opening and movable to either an open position or to a closed position; a drive for moving the elastic band holder first to its closed position for receiving the elastic band, and then to its open position for stretching the elastic band to enclose the bunch of stems received through the opening in the stand; and a stripper member for stripping the elastic band from the holder onto the stems inserted through the opening.

Abstract: An ice detector comprises first and second simultaneously electrically energized resistors one of which is in good thermal contact with the surface where the presence or absence of ice is to be detected and the other of which is thermally insulated from that surface. When ice is present on that surface there will be a different between the temperatures, and hence the resistances, of the two resistors, which difference, when sensed, indicates the existence of ice.

Abstract: An ice detector comprises a housing from which a feeler is adapted to be projected through an aperture--if ice does not cover the aperture the feeler moves freely to its projected position, but if ice does cover the aperture the feeler does not so move. The movement or non-movement of the feeler actuates an appropriate alarm. The feeler may be moved by an expansible chamber so mounted within a housing that expansion of the chamber when heated moves the feeler out of the housing when no ice is present, while when ice is present that expansion actuates the ice detector alarm.

Abstract: The digits of the meter are each represented by the position of a member rotatable to one of ten different positions. The positions of the members do not change simultaneously. A set of first and second sensors are provided for each member. Each sensor is effective, when actuated, to sense the position of the member associated therewith. In each set, the first and second sensors are spaced apart, along the direction of movement of the member, by a distance less than the distance between adjacent positions of the member. The first sensor in each set is actuated, in sequence, to detect the position of the corresponding member and to generate a code representative of the sensed position. The codes for the first meter reading are converted into a first number, which is stored. After a delay sufficient to permit all of the members to change position, the second sensor in each set is actuated, in sequence. Each of the second sensors generates a code representative of the position of the corresponding member.

Abstract: An inlet tube, connected to a source of liquid, such as milk, supplies liquid to the top of a container. An orifice at the bottom of the container permits drainage from the container into an outlet tube. The level of liquid in the container is related to the instantaneous flow rate, in a known manner, as long as the pressure in the container, above the liquid surface, equals the pressure in the outlet tube after the orifice. A conduit connects the upper portion of the container, at a point above the liquid therein, and the outlet tube, below the orifice, to equalize the pressure therebetween, as well as to act as an overflow bypass. Various types of sensors may be used to determine the level of liquid in the container. A signal, representative of the sensed liquid level, is developed and processed to represent the flow rate.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for generating a signal proportional to the quantity of a substance in a container composed of electrically non-conducting material. The container is converted into an electrical condensor by mounting a pair of electrically isolated electrodes on the outside of the container in face-to-face relationship on opposite sections thereof, such that the substance to be measured is situated therebetween. The electrodes are connected to an electronic capacitance measuring unit, preferably including a charge pump frequency to voltage converter, which senses a capacitance of the electrodes and generates an output signal proportional to the sensed capacitance. In this manner, an instantaneous measurement of the quantity of the substance in the container can be obtained and recorded. The measuring unit can be calibrated such that its output is linearly proportional to the quantity of the substance to be measured.